Bag filling machine



H. F. BRIGGS BAG FILLING MACHINE Sept. l5, 1936.

Filed May 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l n n n n a, c w f #L BY /VD F. B/Q/GGS Sept. 15, 1936.

H. F. BRlGGs 2,054,279

BAG FILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1935 Illlll INVENTOR H0 WL /l/VD E 51?/665 ATTORNE Sept. 15, 1936. H, F BR|GG5 2,054,279

BAG FILLING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORN EY sept. 15, 1936. H, F, BRIGGS 2,054,279

BAG FILLNG MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Shea?l 4 mgm. /ff if INVENTOR HOWLAN E 5?/665 BY ATTORNEYY Sept. 15, 1936. H. F. BRlGGs BAG FILLING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 PTNT FFiCE BAG FILLING MACHINE Howland F. Briggs, Bualo, N. Y., assigner to Bagpak, Ine., New York, N. Y., a corporation o! Delaware Application May 2, 193s, serial Np. 19,396

2s claims. (ci. 22e-5e) My invention relates to a machine for filling and closing bags, particularly large open mouth zusseted multi-ply bags made of rigid unyielding4 material, such as kraft paper, adapted to be filled with one hundred pounds more or less of pulverulent or granular materials. My invention of course may be utilized to fill and close bags formed of other materials, or paper bags having a single ply, or bags adapted to contain but a small charge yof material, but it is to be kept in mind that my invention is peculiarly designed with a view to overcoming diiliculties and problems encountered 'in the filling and closing of large multi-ply paper bags.

My present invention is ari-improvement upon the structure described and claimed in the copendingv application of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundali, Serial #688,816, flied September 9, 1933, with particular reference to the lling machine embodied in the invention. My invention comprises improvements in the construction and arrangement of themachine as set forth herein, these improvements having been iound-to'increase materially the operation, speed and eiiiciency of the machine while reducing the hulk thereof and otherwise contributing to its commercial success.

One of the objects of my invention is to devise means for holding the mouths of bags as they are being iilled .in a turret iilling machine, the bag holding means being so constructed that the bag mouths are automatically drawn shut after vthe charge is placed in the' bag, without danger of the bag mouth being torn or marred by the holding clamps.

Another object of my invention is to devise improved automatic means for actuating the bag holding clamps in order that the bags may be firmly and positively gripped before any Vmaterial is dumped thereinto.

mother object' of my invention is to devise improved means whereby the bag is moved around the central `post of the turret during the time that it is'being filled and until it is ejected from the turret.

j Another object of my invention. is to devise improved means for removing the bag from the turret and conveying it to closing and sealing mechanism.

Other and-further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following ldescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout: i Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of m'y improved bag filling and closing machine;

Fig, 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, of the illling turret on an enlarged scale showing features of my invention, and having some parts removed for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a, sectional View of the turret taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the turret taken 10 along line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of one of the iilling spouts and its associated bag gripper taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the clamps in open position; I

Fig. 'i' is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the clamps in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation oi a bag in several positions on the turret, showing the closing of the bag mouth as the bag is J'Oged after being lled; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of gripper actuating mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, my invention comprises a rotary turret A upon which large open mouth bags, particularly multi-ply paper bags, are adapted to be held and wherein they are lled with pulverulent or granular materials from weighing mechanism B mounted above the turret. After the bags are filled they are released from the turret and positioned upon a conveying device C wherein they are closed by closing mechanism D and the closed mouths are sealed by a tape applied by mechanism E. The tape and stitches between bags are severed by means of a shears F and the bags are ejected from the machine. 'The details of the weighing mechanism B, the closing mechanism D, the tape applying mechanism E and the shears F are not within my present invention; the details thereof preferably corresponding to similar mechanism described and illustrated in the aforementioned copending application. Any specic similar mechanism may be employed, it being suicient for the purpose of my invention that. the bags are iilled with the correct charge of material and are closed and ejected from the machine.

The turret and the closely associated parts comprising my present invention will now be described:

The turret comprises a central, fixed post 2B mounted upon a standard 2i and supported at its upper extremity by a framework 22. Surrounding post 2li is a revolving sleeve 23 supported by thrust bearings 2B, and to the lower extremity 55 of which is iixed a gear 25. Gear 25 and theattached sleeve 23 are rotated by means of a worm hoppers, numbered 3|! to 39 inclusive in Fig. 1,

`i'or the purpose ofrelating various positions of the bag in its travel around the turret. A greater or lesser number of hoppers may be employed if desired. The weighing mechanism B comprises a plurality of scales, in this instance two, but of which a greater or lesser number may be employed. Means are provided to operate the scales alternately, one being discharged while the other is weighing a predetermined charge. 'Ihe scales are'tripped by means of mechanism comprising a feeler and associated parts. The weighing scales alternately discharge into a chute 66, the open end of which is located above the upper ends of the hoppers. The shape of the open end of the chute 46 is preferably substantially segmental in order that its sides will be within the limits of the segmentally shaped hoppers during the time that the material is being discharged. The feeler comprises a swinging arm mounted upon a vertical rod 41, the upper end of which carries an arm bearing a spool 48 adapted to be interposed between one arm of a bell crank 49 and a vertical scale-tripping rod 50. The bell crank 49 is rocked by each one of a series of adjustable lugs 5| associated with the turrets, and when the spool 48 'is interposed between the bell crank and the rod 50 one o f the scales will be discharged. 'I'he spool is interposed only when the feeler 45 senses the presence of a bag. 'Ihe feeler and scale-tripping mechanism are more fully described and illustrated in the aforesaid copending application.

The operator, standing at the position indicated by the hoppers 39 and 3|, inserts a bag which Y is clamped by mechanism, to be described, before the hopper reaches position 33. As the lug 5| engages bell crank 49 one of the .weighing scales will be tripped and discharged at the position of hopper 33 (Fig. l.) The chute is so proportioned as to allow the passage of the entire charge before the trailing edge of hopper 33 passes beyond the rearward edge of the chute.` It is to be appreciated that no discharge will occur if the'feeler 45 senses the absence of a bag and swings inward to the position shown in Fig. 1. A

v The bottom of each hopper is extended into an oval-shaped lling spout 55 adapted to be inserted within the mouth 'of an open-mouth bag.

A band 56 circling the spout 55 acts as an upper limit against which the operator positions the upper edge of the bag. The front of each spout is provided with a temporary holding device, preferably two devices being provided. The holding device comprises a bracket 51 (Fig. 6) having a depending arm to which is pivoted a horizontal arm 58. On'the inner end of arm 58 there is mounted a' roller 59 bearing against the surface of the spout 55.' A spring 60 attached to the outer end of arm 58 and to bracket 51 tends to hold arm 58 in substantially horizontal position. 'the length of the arm being such that. roller 59 can-.- notpass below a horizontal line through the pivot of arm 58.A However, when a bag mouth is forced upward the roller will allow insertion of the bag material between itself and the wall of the spout. while the spring 60 will cause the' roller to clamp against the bag material with sufcient force to hold the empty bag. The grip of rollers 59 is soslight that the operator is enabled horizontal position by a spring 68 extending from the arm to a disc 69 xed to the sleeve 23. A pair of spaced collars 10 and 1| are fixed to sleeve 23 below collar 65 and retain a loosely mounted collar 12 in correct position. Collar 12 carries a cam 13 engaged by rollers 14 mounted upon brackets 15 ixed to the lower surface of arm 61. A pair of bars VY1|; and 11 is xed to the collarY 12 and extends to a portion of the frame to conveyor C, serving to prevent rotation of cam 13 about the post 20. Y 1

'Ihe bag is placed upon the filling spouts by the operator at position 38 and/or 3|. It will be filled at position 33, in which position roller 14 engages the relieved portion of cam 13 and the arm 61 begins to tip in order that the bottom of the bag may rest upon a lower support while the total length of the bag shortens due to the bulging of its sides. rlhe lowering of arm 61 gradually continues until in position 38 it remains substantially in its lowermost position. Immediately upon passing that position the arm i s sharply raised by a sharp projection of cam 13.

Spaced rods 18 and 19 are mounted upon the flange of collar 12 and support a shoe 80 which converges toward the cam 13, forming a converging passageway in which roller 14 may be positively engaged and held'at its innermost position, and correspondingly the arm 61 will be held at its lowermost position during the time that the hopper passes through position 38 until shortly before it reaches position 39. The hinge block 66 is formed with an abutment preventing arm 61 from passing above a horizontal position as it is lifted by the force of spring 68.

Arm 61 supports bag grippers which positively hold the bag during the time that it is being illled and until it is depositedin the conveyor C, the rollers 59 merely being temporary holders which are incapable of supporting the bag as it is being filled. The outer end of the arm is provided with a ilange 86 to which is bolted a bracket 81 extendand prevented from rotation with respect thereto,

while gripper G' is mounted upon a rod 9| extending froin portion 89 and is capable of rotation with respect thereto. As seen in Fig. 8, gripper G always remains in a vertical position while gripper G' swings outward from the vertical.

Support 90 extends forward slightly beyond the leading edge of spout 55 and is provided with a depending arm 92 in the lower end of which is mounted a knurled disc clamp 93 slightly to the rear of the center line of the spout 55 and slightly belowthe ring 56. An operating arm 95 is pivoted to the forward end of support 90 and is provided with' an extension at right angles thereto, forming in effect a bell crank. A movable jaw 96 carrying a spring-pressed knurled disc clamp 91 is plvoted to the arm 92. An intermediate link 98 is pivoted to operating arm 95 and to the jaw 99, the extension or arm 95 and the link 99 forming a toggle adapted to vopen and close the movable jaw 99. A spring 99 extends between pins mounted upon support 90 and arm 95 and tends to retain the arm in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, with the toggle broken and the jaws open in order that the edges of a bag may be slipped between the clamps 93 and 91. Arm 95 carries a roller which is engaged by suitable mechanism to open and close the jaws at the proper time.l In Fig. 6 the arm is in its uppermost position about to be engaged by mechanism to lower the arm and close the jaws. In Fig. '1 the arm is slightly above its lowermost position having been forced downward against the tension of spring 99. As the clamp 91 engages the material of the bag its spring will be compressed and the jaw 99 will be swung to such an extent that the toggle link 99r may travelpast dead center. thereby locking the jaw in closed position. Each l oi the jaws will be successively closed, and at the proper instant mechanism will engage and raise the roller |00 causing link 98 to again pass over dead center whereupon spring 99 will snap arm 95 upward and open the Jaws practically instantaneously.

Gripper G' is a duplicate of gripper G except that it is mounted upon Ythe rod 9| extending from portion -99. A sleeve |05 provided with a depending lever |06 is slipped over the rod and against 99. A second sleeve |01 is bolted to the ilrst sleeve by a bolt |08. and carries the operating mechanism of the jaws and the clamps. -A link |09 is pivcted to lever |09 and to one arm of a bell crank Iill pivoting about a post mounted upon bracket 91. The opposite arm of bell crank I I0 is fixed to a link I I2 extending above and parallel to arm 61. A bitt ||5 extends from the hinge block 69 and link i|2 slldably passes therethrough. Lock nuts IIE dene the limit to which link i|2 may pass through the bitt and a compressed spring ||1 held on the link by other adjustahle lock nuts lit normally retains the lock nuts i||l against the bitt.

It can be seen that as arm 61 pivots downwardly, link H2, forming in eiect one side of a paralered. This occurs during the time that the bag passes through positions 34, 35, 36 and 31. As the bag reaches position 39 and is traveling toward position'31 the contents thereof should have been completely settled and the bag will have bulged and shortened and due to the lowering of arm 51 positive lowering of the arm might easily result in ripping or chewing of the bag mouth. Due to the spring the arm may be lowered without continued rocking of gripper G' beyond a point allowed by the width of the bag. This is of extreme importance inasmuch as the operator may not always draw the mouth of the bag tautly against the sides of the spout. If the bag mouth is loosely drawn gripper G will have to rock to a greater extent than if the bag mouth were tautly drawn.

In order positively to close and open the grippers at the proper instants, there are provided cams which contact with the rollers |00 on the arms 95. A cam |25, suitably positioned upon the framework of conveyor C, forces arms upward as soon as the bag reaches the conveyor. 'Ihe cam is so positioned that gripper G will be openedas soon as the leadingV edge of the filled bag enters the grip of the conveyor, and the trailing gripper G will be opened as soon as the entire bag had entered the conveyor and its mouth gripped and held in closed position to be presented to the closing and sealing mechanism. Cam |25 merely starts the arm upward,

and as soon as the toggle is broken, spring 99 will cause the jaws to snap open, in order that the bag will be held by the grippers until the absolutely correct moment. This cam is similar to the corresponding cam described and claimed in the aforementioned copending application.

In order to close the grippers, I have devised a novel mechanism which comprises a movable shoel so operated as to close" the jaws in a much shorter period of time than would be possible with a fixed cam. I have found this to be desirable since a fixed cam tended to swing the movable gripper, which swinging movement was naturally prevented by the ilxed gripper, both grippers being clamped to fthe bag mouth surrounding the filling spout. Quite often this resulted in a bag being torn or marred.

My novel mechanism comprises cams |26 and |21 mounted upon a shaft |28, driven by a chain |29 from a parallel shaft |30 driven by a gear |3| meshing with a gear |32 at the end of driven shaft 21 (Fig. 5). A yoke |40, slldably guided by shaft |28, is positioned between cams |26, |21 and carries rollers |4i, bearing upon cam |25, and |42 (Fig. 2) bearing upon cam |21. A vertical rod |43 fixed to yoke |40 is positively raised and lowered by the cams |26 and |21. Rod |43 passes through a bitt in a lever |44, pivoted to the frame 22. An adjustable lock-nut on rod |43 supports the lever |44 in substantially horizontal position and an adjustable spring |45 surrounding the rod above the lever |44 forces it to follow the reciprocation of rod |43, spring |45 allowing continued reciprocation of the rod in case the lever should be held against movement. A shoe |46 is xed to the free end of lever |44. Cam |21 is provided with two sharp elevations spaced about apart. Cam I 28 is provided with two depressions so related to the elevations on cam |21 as to allow downward movement of shoe |49 when the elevations on cam |21 engage roller |42.

An inspection of Fig. 4 shows that grippers G and G are spaced about twice as far apart as the grippers G and G' of adjacent spouts. Cam |26 raises the shoe |49 to the position indicated in Fig. 6 and cam |21 sharply lowers the shoe at the instant that one of the rollers |00 comes beneath it. The reciprocations of the shoe will occur twice in rapid succession with a longer following dwell in order that each gripper may be closed by positive reciprocating mechanism. Shoe |46 is turned upwardly at its front edge to provide a cam-shaped shoe, assisting in the downward movement of fthe arms 95. 'I'he spring |48 allows the shoe to remain stationary in case a jaw should4 be jammed, and allowscontinued movement ofrod |43 even after the jaws have been completely closed.

As the bags progress around the turret they are jogged in order to settle the contents into the bags. This jogging action is accomplished by means of an-arcuate platform |50 positioned beneath the illing spouts from stations 33 to 31 inclusive. Mountedv in the platform are a series of radially extending rollers adapted to engage and support the bottom of the bags as they are nlled and lowered onto the platform by the arms 61. Platform |50 is supported by a frame |52 pivoted at |54A and |55 to allow pivoting of the platform, and supported adjacent its central portion by roller |56 bearing upon a rotating cam |81 having two or more sharp depressions. Platform '|50 is hinged. to a short intermediate section |58 extending to the belt conveyor |59 in conveyor C. Cam |51 is rotated by a vertical shaft |60, thelower end of which is supported in a frame |6| carrying cushioning elements |62 against which the fr'ame |52 is dropped by the action of the cam. Shaft |60 extends upward to a gear box |64 mounted upon frame 22 and is driven by a. motor |65 (Figs. 1 and 2) As the bags are filled and lowered onto the conveyor |50, their contents will be logged by the rapidly shaken roller conveyor i 50. The rollers l 5| provide frictlonless support for the bottom of the bag in order that undue strains will not be placed upon it. However, I have found that considerable strain is placed upon the bag in spite of the rollers, resulting in the bag being distorted, its edges torn or marred, or its being disi engaged from the gripping jaws, so that the each spout. 60

Aes

mouth of the bag will not be maintained in a horizontal line or at the correct height. Inasmuch as theA mouth of the bag is gripped in the conveyor C and presented to the closing mechanism in the same alignment that it is received b y the conveyor, it is important that it should not slip the clamps. Inf'order to prevent this I have developed bag pushing means, specically illustra-ted in Figs. 3 and 5.

Spaced collars and |1| are attached to the rotating sleeve 23, and support a loosely mounted collar |12 prevented from rotating by bars |13 and |14 extending to the conveyor frame, similar to bars 16 and 11. l Below collar |1| is a disc |15 weldedor otherwise afllxed, to sleeve ,23 for rotation therewith. A series of radially extending bars |16`are mounted upon disc |15, being one for Suitable braces |11 may be provided to prevent bars |16 from being distorted.

A bell-crank |18 is pivoted at |19 to bar |18, one end of which carries a roller |80. An arm |8| is also pivoted on the pivot'l19 and is connected to the free arm of bell-crank |18 by an adjustable pin and slot connection. Al lug |82 upon arm |8I, engages with an adjustable screw |83 'fixed in bar |16 to prevent undue inward movement of roller |80 under the force of. a spring :8g extending from arm |8| to an adjacent bar During the time that the hoppers are in positions 89, 80, 8| and 32 the ,spring |84 holds lug |82 against th screw |88, and bag-pushing plates |86, fixed-to the ends of arms |8I, will be held to the rear of the empty bags and out of the way of the bags as they are being placed on the turret. With the pusher-plates |86 held in retracted position, the trailing edge of an empty bag will be substantially contacting therewith, but as the bag lls and the sides bulge, the edges of the bag will be drawn toward each other and the pusher-plates vwould be practically useless were it not for the following mechanism: A number of adjustable rods |90 are extended radially from the flange of collar |92 and support a circular cam ISI having a relatively sharp forward edge at |92 against which the rollers |80 engage as the bag is being iilled. The roller will ride onto the fixed portion -of cam 9| before the bag leaves the filling station, so that as the bag lls thepusher-plate will be caused positively to follow the retarding edge of the bag. During the time that the bag is being :logged and the turret passes through stations 34, 35, 36, 31, and part of 38, the pusher-plate will be held against the rear edge of the lled bag in order to maintain it in substantial vertical alignment in spite oi the retarding friction of its bottom on the conveyor |50. The end of cam |9| has a slightly relieved portion |93 which allows the pusher-plate to recede slightly in order that its tip will not be caused to travel faster than the conveyor C. As the bag is completely gripped in the conveyor and the grippers released, roller |80 drops from the cam |9| and the pusher-plate is retracted to clear the bag in the conveyor and to allow room for a succeeding empty bag.

As explained in the aforesaid copending application, when the mouth of the bag is released from the turret and gripped in the conveyor C, the gussets, and/or the plies of `a multi-ply bag would tend to slip due to the translation from rotary movement to tangential, straight line movement. To correct this, the invention in the aforesaid application comprises means whereby the leading edge of the bag was received between the bag mouth gripping chains after a third of l the bag had passed a line drawn normal to the 200 and 20| are passed about drive wheels 202,

203 respectively, mounted invalignment with a normal drawn through the center of the turret, but spaced at such a distance apart that the bag mouth cannot be gripped therebetween. Chain 200 is forced inwardly by a guide rail 204 and chain 20| is forced inwardly by spring pressed guide rails 205, the form of the guide rails being such that the chains are brought intogripping relationship at substantially one-third of a bag mouth from the normal drawn through the center of the turret. The advantage of this construction is that the chains do not diverge as abruptly as they would if passed around closely positioned drive wheels, and the bag mouth is gradually compressed into a. single plane. I have found that with this construction there is no slippage of the plies relativeto one another.

In Fig. 4, an empty spout is shown at positions 38 and 80. In positions 3i to 38 inclusive, the mouth of a bag is indicated upon each ofthe spouts. In positions 8| and 32, the bag is held in mouth is substantially in alignment with the ,l

center line of the conveyor C.

` the bag gripping jaws.

` It is to be noted that the closing of the bag mouth is rapidly accomplished due to a relatively sharp depression 201 on cam 13 extending between positions 3l and 35.. This allows rapid lowering of the bag immediately after the charge is dumped thereinto in order that the bag may expand without undue strain being placed upon the material lengthwise of the bag. In position 35 the bag mouth is still slightly open but will be closed very shortly due to a continued sloping portion 208 of cam 13, and as the bag reaches position 36 its mouth will be closed suiciently to prevent the escape of dust as it is being logged. In position 31 the roller M does not quite touch the edge of cam 13 which is now concentric with the post20. This enables the entire bag to be jagged vertically, the weight of the bag tending to force roller 16 against cam 13 while the tension of spring 68 tends to lift the roller away from the cam. In position 30 the shoe 80 has positively forced roller 14 against cam 13, there being little or no logging effect at this position, and the bag mouth being thereby drawn as tautly closed as permitted by the strength of spring H1 in order that it maybe properly presented to the gripping chains 200 and 20|.

Fig. 6 discloses a useful and novel feature of The spring pressed clamp 91 is projected to a point above and slightly to one side of the xed clamp 93 when the jaws are open. The operator, in placing a bag, may shift it vertically and laterally in spite of the, slight grip of the rollers 59, and in so doing he places the edges of the bag between the clamps 93 and 91 where they will beheld by slight frictional pressure depending upon the strength of spring 209 and the position of the lock-nuts on the plunger carrying the clamp. In this manner the edges of 'the bag are aligned with they grippers and need not be held manually until shoe |46 closes the grippers. This is of particularV advantage in handling large, multi-ply gusseted paper bags, of which the gussets are easily disarranged, and if disarranged prevent proper closing or may break theA closing mechanism.

A further advantage of the clamps 93 and 91, particularly with respect to the movable gripper G', is in the fact that they are rotatably mounted in the jaws 92 and 96. The diagrammatic Fig. 8 shows thatas grippers G' are canted, the mouths of the bags would be disarranged or the outer surface would be marred were it not for the fact that the clamps are free to rotate within the jaws.

A further feature of my improved machine is in the provision of a conical hood 2i0 covering the space within the rotating hoppers, being fixed thereto and provided with a sleeve of resilient material 2li bearing against the central shaft 20. The hood and sleeve provide means to prevent dust from dropping into the bearings and moving parts of the mechanism. With gritty materials, the abrasion by sharp particles soon ruins contacting faces and destroys any accuracy of the machine, and with some materials such as sugar, the dust combines with oil in the bearings to form a hard cake preventing rotation of the machine.

- In Fig. 4 may be seen inner false walls 2I5 at each side of the spouts 55 forming vents for the escape of trapped air from the bags as they are being lled. These vents are preferably as illustrated and described in' the copending applicationn of Howland F. Briggs, Serial No. 757,761, filed December 17, 1934, and the nlling spouts are preferably otherwise formed in accordance with the invention therein disclosed and claimed.

The bags are conveyed by the belt i59 with their mouths gripped in closed position by the belts 20( and 202, and successively closed by means of closing mechanism D comprising a sewing head .220, preferably of the double-thread chain stitch type as illustrated in the copending application of Howland F. Briggs and Robert N. Cundall, Serial No. 689,400, illed September 14, 1933, and preferably applying a reinforcing cord 221 in the manner described and claimed in the patent to Robert N. Cundall, No. 1,963,652. After being -sewed, the bag mouths are presented to the tape applying mechanism E, preferably as described and claimed inV the copending Vapplication of Robert N. Cundall and LincolnA A. Cundall, No. 666,114, filed April 14, 1933, and thereafter the tape and thread is clipped by suitable clipping mechanism F. The mechanism D, E and F are driven by suitable gears and shafts or other means (not shown) from the shaft 29 in order that all may operate continuously and synchronously with the turret. are provided automatically to stop the entire machine in case of a jam at any position.

It will, of course, be appreciated that other mechanism than the specific aforementioned structure, may be substituted in place of the parts D, E and F. but the above are suitable and preferred structures.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is described and illustrated, but it will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art that modications in arrangement and detail may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is my intention to claim as my invention all such substitutions, modications and alterations as will come within the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bag illing machine comprising a filling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices, each comprising means to receive and grip the corner of a bag mouth, located one at each side of said spout. and a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices whereby the bag may be raised and lowered with respect to said spout. one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm whereby the distance be- Suitable safety devices (not shown) tween the effective gripping points of said gripping devices may be varied to open and close the bag mouth grippedthereby in order that said spout may be inserted partially into the bag during the iilling thereof and that the bag mouth may be drawnclosed thereafter.

2. A bag lling machine comprising a lling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices, each comprising means to receive and grip the corner of a bag mouth, located one at each side of said spout. a pivoted arm. carrying said gripping devices whereby the bag may be raisedand lowered with respect to said spout, one ci?V said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, and means associated with said arm to cause swinging of said pivoted gripper whereby the effective distance between said gripping devices may be varied to open and close the bag mouth gripped thereby in order that said spout may be inserted partially into the bag during the filling thereof and that the bag mouth. may be drawn closed thereafter.

3. A bag iilling machine comprising a nlling spout, a pair of bag lgripping devices, each comprising means to receive and grip the corner of a bag mouth, located one at each side of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices whereby the bag may be raised and lowered with respect to said spout, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means for causing said arm to swing about its pivot, and means associated with said arm to cause said pivoted gripping device to swing toward and away from said iixed gripping device to open and close the bag mouth gripped thereby in order that said spout may be inserted partially into the bag during the iilling thereof andthat the bag mouth may be drawn closed thereafter.

4. A bag filling machine comprising a iilling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices located one at each side of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means to cause said arm to pivot about its point of suspension, and a linkage associated with said arm and controlling said pivoted gripping device to cause swinging of said pivoted gripping device as said arm pivots.

5. A bag lling machine comprising a filling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices located one at each side of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, lmeans to raise said arm thereby bringing the eii'ective gripping points of said gripping devices above the lower edge of said spout in position to receive and grip the edges of the mouth of a bag slipped over said spout; and means to lower said arm to bring the eective gripping points of said gripping devices` below the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said spout.

. 6. A bag lling machine comprising a iilling spout, a pair of bag gripping ,devices located one at each side of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices, one of vsaid gripping devices'being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of' said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means to raise said arm thereby bringing the effective gripping points of said gripping devices above the lower edge of said spout in position to receiveand grip the edges of the mouth of a bag slipped over said spout, means to lower said arm to bring the eectivegripping points of said gripping devices below the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said spout, and means associated with said arm to swing said movable gripping device toward'said xed gripping device in orden that the edges oi. a bag drawn over said spout may be gripped thereby when said arm is raised andto cause 'said pivoted gripping device to swing away from said iixed gripping device in order that the mouth of the gripped bag may be closed as said arm is lowered.

7. A Abag iilling machine comprising a lling spout, a pair of ba'g gripping devices located one at each side ofsaid spout, a pivoted arm carryingsaid gripping devices, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the otherof said grippingdevices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means to raise said arm thereby bringing the effective gripping points of lbelow the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said spout, and means associated with said arm to swingsaid movable gripping device toward said iixed gripping device in order that the edges of a bag drawn over said spout may be gripped thereby when said arm is raised and to cause said pivoted gripping device to swing away from said xed gripping device in order that the mouth of the gripped bag may be closed as said arm is lowered, said means comprising a linkage extending from a iixed point to said pivoted gripping device.

8. vA bag iilling machine comprising a` filling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices located one at eachside of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means to raisesaid arm thereby bringing the eiective gripping points of said gripping devices above the lower edge of said spout in position to receive and grip the edges of the mouth of a bag slipped over said spout, means to lower saidY arm to bring the eiective gripping points of said gripping devices below the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral vdirection from said spout, and means associated with said arm to swing said movable gripping device toward said xed Agripping device in order that the edges of a bag drawn over said spout may be gripped thereby when said arm is raised and to cause said pivoted gripping device to swing away from said xed gripping device in order that the mouth ping device, and a resilient attachment of said linkage to saidxed point whereby said linkage will not be forced to move should said gripping device be held against swinging movement even though said arm continues to move.

9. A bag filling machine comprising a iilling spout, a pair of bag gripping devices located one at each side of said spout, a pivoted arm carrying said gripping devices, one of said gripping devices being rigidly mounted upon said arm and the other, of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon said arm, means to raise said arm thereby bringing the effective gripping points of said gripping devices above the lower edge of said spout in position to receive and grip the edges of the mouth of a bag slipped over said spout, lmeans to lower said arm to bring the effective gripping points of said gripping devices below the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said spout, and means associated with said arm to swing said movable gripping device toward said iixed gripping device in order that the edges of a bag drawn ov'er said spout may be gripped thereby when' said arm is raised and to cause said pivoted gripping device to swing away trom said iixed gripping device in order that the mouth of the gripped bag may be closed as said arm is lowered; said means comprising a linkage extendingfrom a xed point to saidpivoted gripping device and `a resilient attachment of said linkage to said iixed point whereby said linkage aosaave will not be forced to move should said gripping device be held against movement even though said arm continues to move, said means for lowering said arm comprising a cam having a relatively sharp operative portion so as to cause rapid descent of said arm and accordingly rapid closturret, one of each pair Vof said gripping devices Y' is lled.

10. A bag lling machine comprising a series oi' filling spouts, a turret upon which said iilling spouts are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, gripping devices arranged in pairs and located onev at each side of each of said spouts, an arm carrying each pair of said gripping devices,'said arm being pivotally attached to said being rigidly mounted upon its arm and the other of said gripping devices being pivotally mounted upon its arm, means to raise said arm thereby bringing the effective gripping points of said gripping devices above the lower edge of said spout in position to receive and grip the edge oi' the mouth of a bag slipped over said spout and to lower said arm to bring the effective gripping points of said gripping devices below the end of said spout in order that a bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said spout, and means associated with said arm to swing said movable gripping device toward said xed gripping device in order that the edges of a bag 'drawn over said spout may be gripped thereby when said arm is raised and to cause said pivoted gripping device to swing away from said fixed gripping device in order that the mouth of the gripped bag may be closed as said arm is lowered, said means comprising a linkage extending from a iixed point to said pivoted gripping device and a resilient attachment of said linkage to said fixed point whereby said linkage will not be forced to move should said gripping device be held against swinging movement even though said arm continues to move.

l1. In the machine of claim l0, said means to raise and lower said arm comprising a iixed cam and a cam follower upon said arm, said cam having a relatively sharp operative portion causing rapid lowering of said arm and closing of the bag mouth immediately after the bag is filled.

12. In the machine of claim 10, said means to raise and lower said arm comprising a fixed cam and a cam follower upon said arm, said cam havlng a relatively sharp operative portion causing rapid lowering of said arm and closing of the bag mouth immediately after the bag is lled, and a shoe adjacent said cam providing a passageway in which said follower is confined to bring said gripping devices and the mouth of the bag to a predetermined elevation at a predetermined point in the rotation of said turret.

13. In the machine of claim l0, said means to raise and lower said arm comprising a xed cam and a cam followerupon said arm, said cam having a relatively sharp operative portion causing rapid lowering of said arm and closing of the bag 'mouth immediately after the bag receives its -charge of material, a shoe adjacent said cam providing a passageway in which said follower is confined to bring said gripping devices and the mouth of the bag to a predetermined elevation at a predetermined point in the rotation of said turret, and means to release the bag from said gripping devices at said predetermined point.

14. In the machine of claim 10, said means to raise and lower said arm comprising a xed cam and a cam follower upon said arm, said cam having a relatively sharp operative portion causing rapid lowering of said arm and closing of the bag mouth immediately after the bag is filled, a shoe adjacent said cam providing a passageway in which said follower is confined to bring said gripping devices and the mouth of the bag to a pre- .determined elevation at a predetermined point in the rotation of said turret, and means to release the bag from said gripping devices at said predetermined point, said cam having a sharp projection adjacent the end of said shoe whereby said arm is immediately raised to again position said gripping devices above the end of said iilling spout.

15. In a bag i-lliing machine, a filling spout about which the mouth of a bag-may be drawn, gripping devices located one at'each side of said iilling spout adapted to receive and grip the sides of said bag mouth, said gripping devices being mounted independently of said filling spout and capable of movement relative thereto to lower said bag mouth below the end of said lling spout, and means associated with said gripping devices to increase the distance between the effective gripping points thereof as said bag mouth is lowered and thereby to close the gripped bag mouth, each of said gripping devices comprising gripping jaws and rotatable clamps mounted therein.

16. In a bag 'filling machine, a filling spout about which the mouth'of a bag may be drawn, gripping devices located one at each side of said iilling spout adapted to receive and grip the sides of said bag mouth, said gripping devices being mounted independently of said filling spout and capable of movement relative thereto to lower said bag mouth below the end of said iilling spout. and means associated with said gripping devices to increase the distance between the effective gripping points thereof as said bag mouth is lowered and thereby to close the gripped bag mouth, each of said gripping devices comprising gripping jaws and rotatable clamps lmounted therein, one of said gripping jaws being pivoted to the other of said jaws and comprising a toggle actuating device.

17. In a bag filling machine, a lling spout about which the mouth of a bag may be drawn. gripping devices located one at each lside of said illling spout adapted to receive and grip the sides of said bag mouth, said gripping devices being mounted independently oi said iilling spout and capable of movement relative thereto to lower said bag mouth below the end oi' said lling spout, means associated with said gripping devices to increase the distance between the effective gripping points thereof as said bag mouth is lowered and thereby to close the gripped bag mouth, each of said gripping devices comprising gripping jaws and rotatable clamps mounted therein, one of said gripping jaws being pivoted to the other of said jaws and comprising a toggle actuating device, the clamp in said pivoted jaw being resiliently urged to proj ect toward said iixed jaw when the jaws are opened in order that the edges of a bag may be temporarily held until said jaws are` closed.

18. In a bag filling machine, a rotating turret comprising a filling spout and a pair ot gripping devices adapted to receive and grip the edges of the mouth of a bag drawn over said iilling spout, said gripping devices comprising toggle actuating means and an operating lever, and a reciprocating shoe beneath which said operating levers are positioned by the rotation o! said turret and which upon reciprocation actuates said toggle actuating l of the bag as it is filled and lowered thereunto, a

bag pushing device mounted upon said turret and positioned between said lling spout and said conveyor to engage the rear edge of said bag as it is lled, and means to advance said pushing device to approach the vertical center line of the hagas its sides are bulged by the inserted material thereby ausing its edges to approach each other.

,20. In a bag lling machine, a rotary turret comprising a lling spout and bag gripping devices aciapted to receive and grip the edges of the mouth of a bag positioned on said filling spout,

means to lower said gripping devices after the bag is lled'in order that the filled bag may be removed in a lateral direction from said iilling spout, an arcuate conveyor to support the bottom 0f the bag as it is lled and lowered thereunto, and a bag pushing device mounted upon said turret and positioned between said lling spout and said conveyor to engage the rear edge of said bag as it is lled, means to advance said pushing device` to approach the vertical center line of thebag as its-sides are bulged by the inserted material thereby causing its edges to approach each other, means to remove the illed bag from said turret comprising a tangentially directed conveyor adapted to grip and convey the lled bag as it is deposited therein by said turret, and means to retract said bag pushing device from its advanced position as the bag is released from said turret.

21. In a-rotary bag filling machine, a bag pushing device comprising an arm pivoted to the machine and rotating therewith, a cam .follower mounted upon said arm, and a xed cam with which said follower engagesl adapted to advance and retract said pushing device arcuately with respect to the axis of rotation of said filling machine.

22. In a rotary bag lling machine, a bag pushing device comprising an arm pivoted to the machine and rotating therewith, a cam follower mounted upon said arm, and a iixed cam with which said follower engages adapted to advance and retract said pushing device arcuately with respect to the axis of rotation of said lling material and being retracted as the iilled bag is removed from the machine.

23. In the combination of a rotary turret type lling machine in which a bag is lled with a jcharge of material during the rotation thereof,

and a tangentially situated conveyor within which the lled bags are received and removed from said rotary machine; means in said machine to close the mouths of the bags and bring them to a predetermined elevation during the rotation thereof, and means in said conveyor to receive the closed mouths of the lled bags and maintain them in direct alignment in said conveyor comprising a pair of gripping chains, feed wheels about which said chains are positioned, the axes of said wheelsbeing substantially upon a line normal to said conveyor through the axis of said machine, the peripheres of said wheels being separated to provide a gap between said gripping chains, and means whereby said gripping chains are brought resiliently into gripping contact at substantially one-third of a bag length from the axes of said feed-wheels.

24. In the combination of a rotary turret type lling machine in which bags are filled with a charge of material during the rotation thereof, and a tangentially situated conveyor within which the lled bags are 'received and removed from said rotary machine; means in said machine to close the mouths of the bags and bring them to a predetermined elevation during the rotation thereof, and means in said conveyor to receive the closed mouths of the iilled bags and maintain them in direct alignment in said conveyor comprising a pair of gripping chains, feed wheels about which said chains are positioned, the axes of said wheels being substantially upon a line normal to said conveyor through 'the axis of said machine, the peripheries of said wheels being separated 'to provide a gap between said gripping chains, means whereby said gripping chains are brought resiliently into gripping contact at substantially one-third of a bag length from the axes of said feed wheels, and means whereby the illled bags are released from the machine at substantially the point in its rotation coinciding with the meeting point of said gripping chains.

25. In a rotary bag lling machine, a bag pushing device comprising an arm pivoted to the machine and rotating therewith, and means to advance and retract said pusher arcuately from and toward a normal position-rearwardly of a bag supported by said machine and being iilled.

26. In a rotary bag lling machine, a bag gripping device mounted upon the machine and rotating therewith having an operating lever, and reciprocating means at the side of the machine in position to have said lever pass closely thereby, and means to reciprocate said rst named means in timed relation to the rotation ot the machine whereby to actuate said operating lever as said gripping device is rotated thereby.

HOWLAND F. BRIGGS. 

